Ballot-box.



No. 83l,504. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

R. L. FLEURY.

BALLOT BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 27. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ivo/831504. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906. R. L.- FLBURY.

BALLOT BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

"WIN

&theme/t UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE.

BALLOT-BOX No. 831,5o4.

Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed February 27,1905. Serial No. 247327.

To all whom it my cancer-n:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. FLEURY, a ctizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot-BoXes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked there'on, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates especially to improvements in ballot-boxes, though the construction may be employed in connection with other receptacles, as non-refillable bottles, or any other cases where the conditions are such that after the receptacle has been once used it cannot be reused without destroying it or at least by breaking a portion of it.

The invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the aocompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the ballotbox shown in the closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the same in the open position or in the ballot-receiving position. Fig. 3 is a top view of the device With the screw-cap removed. Fig. 4 is an inside view of the screw-cap shown in detail. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the device, illustrating the scaling-recess. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing a modified, form of Construction. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail'sectional view taken through the line 9 9, Fig. 6, showing the cap adjusted for voting purposes.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the ballot-boX or other receptacle. The top of this receptacle is threaded, as shown at 6, to engage corresponding threads formed on a screw-cap 7. The body part is reinforced on two opposite sides, forming ears 8, provided with recesses 9. The cap is also provided on opposite sides with ears 10, provided with recesses 12. When the receptacle is closed, the recesses 9 and 12 register, and coil-springs 13 act on pins 14, whereby the latter are forced upwardly and 'made to engage the recesses 9 and 12 of the cap and receptacle, thus looking the cap securely in place. Then this occurs, the ears 8 and 10 are in close contact with each other and there is no opportunity to insert an instrument for the purpose of unlocking the device. Hence the only way that the receptacle when once closed in this manner can be opened is either to break the cap or the body of the receptacle, or both. The ears 10 of the cap are so connected with the body thereof that they may be easily broken off by means of a tap with a hammer from above. This may be done without breaking the body of the receptacle. Hence the body portion may be reused. When the device is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. l, the ballot-opening 15, formed in the top of the cap, is directly above a segmental closure 16, formed at the top of the receptacle, whereby access cannot be gained to the box through the opening 15. When the device is in use, the cap is partly unscrewed or adjusted to occupy the position shown' in Fig. 2. In this event ballots inserted through the opening 15 are allowed free access to the box.

The body of the box is provided eXteriorly with a sealing-recess 17, while the cap is provided with a similar recess 18. When the device is in the closed position, these recesses register and are adapted to hold a quantity oi' sealing-waX, to which may be applied a seal. This seal gives additional security to the box.

In the form of Construction shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the body of the receptacle is provided at its upper portion with an. opening 19, adapted to register with an opening 20 formed in the cap when the latter is adjusted for voting purposes. When, however, the cap is closed, the two openings are out of register and nothing can be inserted through the opening 20 in the cap. When closing either form of receptacle, the pins are pressed down against the springs until the lugs of the cap are in position to engage the tops of the pins. The cap is then turned to the closing position, the recesses of the two parts being at the same time caused to register, whereby the pins are made to enter the recesses of the cap. It will be observed that when this is the case the pins are 'of sufficient length to partially engage the recesses of both members, thus securely looking them in place. When this IOO device is used for a ballot-boX, the cap and body part are correspondingly numbered. (See Fig. 5.)

In Fig. 2 the cap is unscrewed a half revolution or turn from the closed position, or that shown in Fig 1. When the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the openings 9 and 10 register, since their position is exactly half a revolution from that shown in Fig. 1, and the recess 9 on one member of the device and the recesses 10 on the other member of the device are exactly one hundred and eighty degrees apart. This is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. By virtue of this relation when the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the pins and springs are not in place, since the pins would be forced into position and the cap locked against turning. Attention is called to the fact that when it is desired to close the cap, assuming that the voting is completed and that the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary in turning the cap toward the closed position to stop it just before the lugs 1 0 cover the holes 9. The pins and spring are then dropped into position and pressed down, after which the cap is screwed to the completely-closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, in which event the pins are forced into place and the two members of the device securely locked, as heretofore explained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- V 1. A ballot-boX consisting of a threaded body part and a screw-cap, the two parts being provided 'with recesses adapted to register when the cap is adjusted to close the receptacle, the registering recesses being engaged by spring-actuated looking-pins, the cap having an opening and the body an integral portion partly closing it at the top, the said closure part occupying a position directly below the opening of the cap when the latter is in the closed position, the cap and body part being provided with exteriorly-lo- &31,504

cated recesses adapted to register only When the device is closed, the said recesses being open to receive a quantity of sealing-waX.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a threaded body part, a screw-cap, and means for looking the parts when in the closed position, the cap having an opening and the body an integral portion occupying a position directly in front of the opening when the cap is in the closed position for the pur ose set forth.

3, A bal ot-box consisting of a threaded body part and a screw-cap, the two parts being provided with recesses adapted to register when the cap is adjusted to close the receptacle, the registering recesses being engaged by spring-actuated looking-pins, the cap having an opening and the body an integral portion partly closing it at the top, the said closure part occupying a position directly below the opening of the cap when the latter is in the closed position.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a threaded body part, a screwcap, and means for locking the parts when in the closed position, the cap having an opening and the body an integral part partially closing it at the top and occupying a position directly below the opening when the cap is in the closed position for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cap and body part, means for locking the parts when in the closed position, the two members being provided with exterior shallow recesses registering when the device is closed for scaling purposes, the said recesses being both open to receive a quantity of wax which is eXposed to receive the impression of a seal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 4

ROBERT L. FLEURY.

VVitnesses:

DENA NELsoN, A. J. OBRIEN. 

